Noise caused by tyres

[Doggy]

Doggy's 'thrupenny bits' picture disappointed me

Sorry if it was a bit of a let down old chap, but you must see the shiny silver ones you prize so highly simply wouldn't have illustrated the point.

[Bailes1992]

My Fathers old V50 T5 only ever had Pirelli PZeros fitted and they were always going out of shape. The ride was rock hard. The car handled like a sack of spuds and was rather skittish. I sometimes wonder if that's the reason I dislike the Volvo V50/S40/C30 so much.

I personally wouldn't buy part worns. I just think that you're buying every kerb they've kit, every pothole they've dropped into etc etc. Who's to say the tyres wearnt off a crashed car?
I'd use a set of alloys with tyres on them because you can gauge the life the tyre has had by the damage on the wheel.

I fitted 4 Pirrelli P7 Cinteratos to my Mondeo and they are an awesome tyre! Grippy in the dry, quiet and very good in the wet. Seem to be wearing well too!

[rwb]

Had the tracking checked today. Front spot on. Rear camber is out but I was told there is no adjustment. (This is the eccentric bolt on the 406, right?) In any case, tracking now eliminated as the cause.

I think P7s were what these were delivered with (not Michelin, surprisingly).

Spotted a pair of Michelin Primacy 3 part worns for half the price of one new P7, so it might be worth it to see if they handle and wear better before committing to new.

[PeterN]

Don't alter the adjustment on the rear or you will end up ruining the tyres - guess how I know. My tyre fitter said the camber angle was wrong and when you first lower the car after fitting the tyres it does look like it, but it isn't, as soon as you drive the car the wheels move out at the bottom. The adjustment only changes the toe in/out, I set mine parallel and the tyres are wearing evenly. After I had changed it to 'correct' the tracking I took the edge of the tyres of in a couple of thousand miles.

Peter

[KozmoNaut]

I think P7s were what these were delivered with (not Michelin, surprisingly).

P6000s, actually. I still have the original spare in the boot.

The 406 is supposed to have a bit of negative rear camber, enough that it's clearly visible when you look at the car. A lot of alignment places go about their job the lazy way and align everything as they would a torsion beam rear axle. That messes up the multilink rear suspension on cars like the 406, where toe changes according to how much the suspension is loaded. It's designed like this to provide a bit of passive rear steering and added stability with 4 passengers and a full boot.

[rwb]

Front: two Michelin Primacy 3 with 4.9mm left on them. £85 for the pair, fitted.
Rear: two Michelin Primacy HP with 3.5mm and 3.8mm left on them. £70 for the pair, fitted.

Deafening noise gone.

I'm also sure that bumps in the road feel softer -- or at least more familiar as I had Michelins on the 406, and that the car rolls more freely.

Definitely a good decision.

So I'm now of the opinion that that part-worn premium tyres are a better option (and cheaper, mm for mm) than new budget tyres.

[Welly]

I've done bought part-worns before (Michelin funnily enough) and they were perfect. Like we've said before if you buy a second hand car you get second hand tyres and you've no clue how they've been 'treated'.

I'm of the opinion that if there's something wrong with a tyre then you'll get fair warning i.e. a flat-spot or out of shape will produce a vibration or steering movement at slow speed. I doubt that when fitting part worns they will instantly explode above 15mph